The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has urged traders and the general public to explore the tailor-made simplified export processes and other vistas of opportunity present at the agency.
According to a statement on Wednesday, Dantsoho gave this advice during the 36th Enugu International Trade Fair.
The event was themed ‘Developing Nigeria’s industrial sector/SMEs for economic advancement and global recognition’.
According to him, the NPA, in its bid to contribute to the strengthening of the domestic economy through the promotion of balance of trade, established the Export Process Terminal ‘to simplify the hitherto burdensome process of exporting Nigerian goods”.
He emphasised that the agency has put measures in place to link value creators in the remotest part of the hinterland with the farthest clusters of demand anywhere on the globe.
Dantsoho maintained that the NPA is always proud to be associated with the noble cause that the Trade Fair represents, “especially seeing that trade remains the most veritable tool for actualising most of our economic aspirations.”
He assured stakeholders that the doors of NPA are always open for partnerships even beyond the trade fair.
Dr. Dantsoho explained that the EPTs were conceptualised to serve as a one-stop shop for cargo consolidation, stuffing, documentation, packaging, certification, and onwards shipment through electronic call-ups to the ports.
“In quick turnaround time, thus eliminating the duplications and bureaucratic overlaps that previously rendered Nigerian exports uncompetitive in the international marketplace,” Dantsoho said.
He mentioned that to facilitate port-hinterland connectivity and create pathways for small and medium-scale enterprises to play in the export value chain, the EPTs are to be linked with domestic export warehouses in synergy with the NEPC and relevant partners.
“To align with the ease of doing business orientation of the Federal Government and the theme of the year’s fair theme, we are aggressively simplifying our export processes to enable made-in-Nigeria goods to transit through our ports as seamlessly as possible,” he stated.
The NPA MD further disclosed that to achieve the goal, the NPA is eliminating the human interface, which encourages underhand dealings, by pursuing the full automation of its processes and procedures through the Ports Community System, which lays the groundwork for the implementation of the National Single Window.
“For clarity, the NSW is the global best practice for delivering the greatest value with the greatest ease by connecting all stakeholders in the trade value chain for seamless interaction at the push of a button,” Dantsoho said.
The NPA boss commended the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines & Agriculture for its resilience in sustaining the culture of hospitality and business friendliness that has continued to attract people from all over the globe to be a part of the trade fair, which is deepening economic prosperity.
He stated that the strategic positioning of Enugu as the gateway to the South-Eastern hinterland presents huge opportunities for the expansion of export opportunities, which is the focal point of the authority.
